2014 Boys'
Season Preview
By Aaron Brown
February 2014
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THE
SLEEPERS: BOYS
There are several teams on the rise and others who lost a ton of
production to graduation but could reload quickly in order to make
an impact during the 2014 season.
Let's take a closer look at ten
teams considered 'Sleepers' this season:
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31. ANDREW
The
T-Bolts have nearly everyone back in 2014, so they should have no
problem turning around their 10-16 mark from a year ago and
challenging for the SWSC Red division title. Eric Tamulonis leads
the way for the offense, while the rest of the balanced offensive
attack from the T-Bolts will be provided by the likes of Alex
Batuello, Alex Gacek, Jake Villasenor, Chuck Walters and Andrew
Wojdyla. Tim Yara took over the goaltending duties in mid-April of
last season and should solidify the backline for what should be a
much-improved Andrew defense.
Head
Coach:
Krzystof Kowal
Key Players: Alex
Batuello, Alex Gacek, Eric
Tamulonis, Chuck Walters, Andrew Wojdyla
Players to Watch:
Zach Rentner, Jake Villasenor
Goalkeeper: Tim
Yara
Final 2013 Ranking:
38th
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32. LIBERTYVILLE
Libertyville boasts plenty of speed and talent heading into the new
season, so they could top last year's 19-win output and challenge
Stevenson for the North Suburban Conference title. Adam King will
look to carry the offense after last season's strong goal-scoring
performance. Andrew Fink returns in goal after his first season as
the starter and should be much improved. Meanwhile, contributors
like Mitch Salata, Bobby Snader and Jason Voelker will need to make
their presence felt if the Wildcats hope to get past the sectional
semifinal round, where they lost a two-goal heartbreaker to
Stevenson last May.
Head
Coach:
Ivan Munoz
Key Players: Adam King, Pat King,
Mitch Salata, Bobby Snader, Jason Voelker
Goalkeeper:
Andrew Fink
Final 2013 Ranking:
25th
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33.
WAUBONSIE VALLEY
The potential is there for Waubonsie Valley to shatter last season's
11-win tally, as they return several starters with loads of
experience.
Nathan Morris and Jared Schreier
are two versatile seniors who can make things difficult for
opponents on both ends of the pool. Meanwhile, head coach Matt
Niemeier will expect big things from juniors Bradin Krug and Cameron
Steele after both emerged as scoring threats last season. If the
Warriors can find some depth, they should be able to make a deep
postseason run in May.
Head Coach: Matt
Niemeier
Key Players: Bradin
Krug, Nathan
Morris, Jared Schreier, Cameron
Steele
Goalkeeper: TBA
Final 2013 Ranking:
33rd
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34.
ST RITA
St Rita has an abundance of options heading into the 2014 season, as
nearly everyone returns to the lineup for head coach Sigfredo Cruz.
The Mustangs' balanced attack is led by Chuck Henrichs, Eric Johnson
and John O'Sullivan, who are all capable of leading the offense at
times.
They will be joined by juniors Matt Lopez and Dan Slizais, two
players who emerged as solid overall performers early last season
and should be improved after a full year of experience. Dan Carone
and Kevin Cronin are also back in the mix and should play valuable
minutes for the Catholic League squad. On the defensive side of
things, junior goaltender Chris McMahon returns and could be a
difference-maker for a team that should easily surpass their win
total (9) from 2013.
Head Coach:
Sigfredo Cruz
Key Players: Dan
Carone, Kevin Cronin, Chuck Henrichs, Matt
Lopez, John O'Sullivan, Dan Slizais
Player to Watch:
Eric Johnson
Goalkeeper: Chris
McMahon
Final 2013 Ranking:
42nd
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35.
NILES WEST
Niles West produced another successful season (15-11) in 2013, so
expect more of the same from one of the youngest programs in the
state of Illinois. Head coach John Przekota will count on the
production of veterans Kyle Patt and Steven Renko on the offensive
end, while Matt Lefler returns in goal as the centerpiece of an
always-tough team defense. Finding replacements for Andrew Mudreac
and Max Romanelli will be tough, but Piotr Chmielewski and Maaz Shah
lead a stable of up-and-coming players that could help the Wolves
challenge for the CSL title and make an big impact in the postseason.
Head
Coach:
John Przekota
Key Players:
Piotr Chmielewski, Kyle Patt, Steven
Renko, Maaz Shah
Goalkeeper: Matt
Lefler
Final 2013 Ranking:
35th
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36. BRADLEY
The Boilers are hopeful that a 'strength-in-numbers' approach will
help them best their 19-win total of last season. With Joseph Page
and Paul Weber gone, head coach Rob White will look to players like
Dylan Cote, Nick Dalzell and Zach Zahrobsky to pick up the scoring
slack. Veteran goalkeeper Mark Hoffman returns to
lead the defense, giving the team the type of confidence needed to
once again challenge for the SWSC Red title. The team has plenty of
depth to spare, as players such as Michael Goodman, Ryan Graeber and
Keith Martin are amongst could play valuable minutes for Bradley.
Head
Coach:
Rob White
Key Players: Dylan Cote, Nick Dalzell, Michael Goodman, Ryan Graeber, Keith Martin, Zach Zahrobsky
Goalkeeper: Mark
Hoffman
Final 2013 Ranking:
31st
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37. EVANSTON
The Wildkits head into the new campaign hoping to build off last
May's sectional quarterfinal win over GBS. They could be on their
way up the rankings if the returning cast of players can quickly
make up for the loss
of Sergi Maymo Lopez and Kameron-Simmons Gill. The offense will be
led by Zach Kornick, Liam O'Connor and Joe Seguine-Hall, while head
coach Kevin Auger hopes that players such as Dave Figueredo, Alex
Haab and Nathan Stein can make positive contributions as the season
gets underway. Evanston gets a boost on the defensive end as senior Stuart Hays
returns to man the goal.
Head
Coach:
Kevin Auger
Key Players: Dave Figueredo, Alex Haab, Zach Kornick, Liam O'Connor, Joe Seguine-Hall, Nathan Stein
Goalkeeper:
Stuart Hays
Final 2013 Ranking:
26th
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38. SCHAUMBURG
The Saxons seemed to turn the corner late in the 2013 season after
earning a 9-7 win over Hersey in the sectional quarterfinals. That
should serve as a sign of things to come, as junior James Birriel
had a breakout season and will carry the bulk of the scoring load
for new head coach Adam Koschnitzke. The MSL West squad also returns
contributors like Austin Borst, Tyler Gustafson, Dan Skirook and
Michael Walsh, so expect a major improvement over last season's win
total (10) and a deeper postseason run. Robert Bach also takes over
the goaltending duties from graduate Marty Faleni on the defensive
end.
Head
Coach:
Adam Koschnitzke
Key Players: James
Birriel, Austin
Borst, Tyler
Gustafson, Frank
Kovar, Dan
Skirook, Michael
Walsh
Goalkeeper:
Robert Bach
Final 2013 Ranking:
43rd
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39.
LINCOLN-WAY CENTRAL
Lincoln-Way Central made huge strides last season, as they followed
up a 1-24 campaign in 2012 with double-digit wins under new head
coach Jim Lock. They could be even better this season, as a solid
group of seniors should provide a balanced attack and make things
very interesting for their SWSC Blue division rivals. Tristan Funk,
Conor McGowan and Ryan Sterling make for a hard-to-stop trio on the
offensive end, while the emergence of Kyle Forsythe last season
should give the Knights another valuable weapon on both ends of the
pool. Senior goaltender Mike Molchin takes over the full-time duties
in goal after splitting time with Mike Petrizzo in 2013, and should
play a key role in Central's potential rise into the Top 25 this
year.
Head
Coach:
Jim Lock
Key Players: Kyle
Forsythe, Tristan
Funk, Conor
McGowan, Ryan
Sterling
Goalkeeper: Mike
Molchin
Final 2013 Ranking:
39th
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40. LINCOLN-WAY EAST
The
Griffins could return to their winning ways as they have several
familiar faces back to try and best their 8-21 mark of a year ago.
Head coach Mike Cremieux will look to seniors Declan Flaherty and
Keegan Murphy for leadership and increased offensive production to
make up for the loss of Andy Gramont and Al Newell. The hope is that
a strong junior class led by Joe DiGiovanni, Nate Drewes, Nick
Drewes and Eric Mueller can step up and get the team into
double-digit win territory and give the group a chance to make some
noise in the postseason.
Head
Coach:
Mike Cremieux
Key Players:
Joe
DiGiovanni, Nate Drewes, Nick Drewes, Declan
Flaherty, Eric Mueller, Keegan
Murphy
Goalkeeper: TBA
Final 2013 Ranking:
41st
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